Month: November 2016

An American friend of mine came to Paris and had told me in advance in case I wanted to order something that he could bring over, and..well I jumped on that chance! Sephora don’t do a ton of brands here that they do over in the US (though it is changing with Fresh, ABH, Huda Beauty, Becca and soon KVD), so I made sure to choose products that I wouldn’t be able to easily get myself.

Additionally, since I spent a fair bit in the summer, I had enough points to claim a Too Faced Melted Matte lipstick, as well as benefit from their promotions and bag myself a goody bag plus three samples.

So here are the products I bought ( I include the 100pt redemption Too Faced Melted Matte Lipstick here):

CoverFX – This is SPF30 which is perfect because I sometimes flare up when I wear suncream (but it’s very important, especially if I use resurfacing products..) so I got a sample of this and didn’t seem to react so knew that this would be perfect for over moisturiser and under primer/foundation.

Kevyn Aucoin Medium Sculpting Powder – This seems to be a major staple for many people and I had to try this out. I wanted the light shade but that was sold out so I went for the medium, knowing that I could probably get away with both and that medium was the only one that existed for a long time and if it suited NikkieTutorials for a while then I must be good for sure!

IT cosmetics CC+ cream – I’ve heard about this brand and thought this was the perfect time to try it. I heard more about the bye bye under eye products more actually, but since I was more looking for a foundation type product I went with this one instead.

Too Faced Melted Matte in Sell Out – I saw this in the 100pt offering and had to go for it. This shade looks like a neutral good for work colour, and it is. It kind of reminds me of Pasedena from Ofra, but it is slightly different. I like the wear on it, and it isn’t drying actually for me (the Ofra one can be quite drying..like all Matte lipsticks I assume)

Drunk Elephant Let’s B Clear pack – I bought the night serum and although I haven’t tried it out, I remember also looking at the Marula Oil products. Since then I saw the ride or die products mention the day serum as well as the oil and the night serum so I thought why the heck not..

From the goody bag, I’m super happy to have the Porefessional and Nars products to try because they are everywhere! And then the rest are good little sized products that I can always have a use for (I mean face masks, SPF, perfume are always good when you’re travelling or something!)

Oh and before I sign off, I had to share what the Kevyn Aucoin packaging looks like. It caught me by surprise (in a good way) and I had to share it because I wasn’t expecting it. The packaging itself is a nice golden smooth box, it sort of screams luxury, the powder itself comes in a two toned gradient (also screams luxury) and comes in a little cloth pouch.. I mean how cute!!

I love when I go through products, it feels that I’m making progress, despite new products coming in through each month through my Glossybox (at least!). There are a fair few sample products this month but let’s get started..

NaturalTech Replumping shampoo – this was from a beautybox and without any sulphates or parabens I was bound to already give this a few points. It was good and though I can’t really say with one use if I liked it alot or not, it did clean my hair well. I don’t think I’ll go out my way to repurchase, but if I don’t have any shampoos and I see this brand I might think why not.

Hayasei anti-fatigue eye patches – this was also from a beautybox. This was a one use eye patch mask, with the patches going just under your eye. I did feel that this did something, if not just to relax my eye area and feel that it was working. However, eye patches aren’t something I would use regularly, so whilst I would use it if I have it, I wouldn’t buy it.

Fresh Soy face cleanser – this is a mild, lovely smelling and gentle cleanser. I used this on it’s own and with my clarasonic to get rid of any make up. I think it’s gentle and effective, and I already have a small version of this in my back up. I would repurchase this.

La roche posay – This is the second time I had a bottle like this, and my thoughts pretty much stay the same. It feels kind of heavy for a micellaire water, and I didn’t like it so much. I wouldn’t repurchase it, as I like them to feel like water and invisible on the skin but it did the job in taking off my make up.

Skin Owl – This product is a clear gel like texture, that I could easily rub into my neck area. Whether or not it made a difference, I can’t really say. I think it was good that it reminded me to take care of my neck area, as the product was specifically for this, however I don’t think I would re purchase because I didn’t see any difference.

Benefit They’re Real! Primer – This worked well as a light tint to my eyelashes post eyeshadow, and I feel that it worked as a primer because I would get less flaking. I would repurchase if I was really into mascara, and I could wear them alot, but as I don’t tend to (especially as longer lashes would rub against my glasses) it’s a non re purchase from me.

Benefit They’re Real! Push up liner– This was a product that I was super interested to try out. I think in the beginning I loved this, it did give me exactly what I wanted but I will say two things about this product. 1) Super hard to get rid of and 2) This did transfer and I would need to keep checking that I didn’t get panda eyes. If the formula changed, I think I would re purchase. However I think I initially loved it because it was the first product that I could get up close to my lash line, however the transfer of the product for me stopped me from using it after I discovered other products / brushes.

L’Atelier Maquillage – This was a light mascara, but I think it also did flake on me. I would need to check for any transfer. I don’t feel that it did anything in particular to my lashes (strengthen, grow, volume etc) but I did give it a good go and good use to quickly darken the lashes after using lighter eyeshadow colours.

Kiehls Creamy Eye Treatement –This is a sample, and I think I might consider getting the full sized. The texture was not what I thought it would be though, more plasticky than anything I could describe. As I put it under my eye area, it was light and spread easily, but the texture is something that isn’t an oil, cream or gel like feeling… however, I think that it did do something to my under eye area.

Caudalie masks – I got these from a pharmacy I think, after my big shop, and they are either hydrating ones (where you slap it all on and then after 15mins wipe off the excess) or the ones you wash off. I think that the brand is great, I love the hand creams for sure, and apart from the moisturising mask, I might be tempted to get the full sized versions to fully test more. However, the truth is that I have a ton of masks already to go through (from boxes or sales) so I might not get around to it, and the products weren’t impacting me so much that I’d want to stock up right away.

So I was looking at the Sephora.fr website and one the new products I saw that the well known Becca Champagne Pop face palette had actually come to France!! (Only here it’s called C Pop and some of the colours have changed names ie Amaretto is Almond and Prosecco Pop is Gold Pop..I guess there is a thing that they are alcohol related? Which is funny considering we are in France..!)

I had lost hope in getting this palette, as this summer during my holidays to the US and Canada, this product was sold out everywhere. Then in the UK I found it hard to get it via SpaceNK. I had settled with one of the Splits instead (Prosecco Pop and Pamplemousse). However, I jumped on the chance to get this palette since I had watched so many YouTube videos on this palette, and read so many reviews.

I saw that it has been re-released as a limited edition again in the US websites so I guess that’s why it’s come to France too.

The packaging of this is super pretty, and the palette is quite heavy. I also get what people say when they say the mirror is good – it’s a good size and it’s actually quite clear. I haven’t used it yet, I’m still sort of wanting to savour it but.. without further ado, here it is the palette!

So I’ve put a couple of items on eBay recently, mainly because I’ve been using eBay to get rid of a few items (mainly clothes) that weren’t old enough to put through recycling but also good enough brands to be re-purposed. I didn’t think that the same could go for makeup, but I’ve read that in the US there are a fair few sites that specialise in selling on gently used make up. I decided to clear out a few things, the two eyeshadow palettes that have been gently used, and the rest that hasn’t been touched. As of right now, the eyeshadow palettes have been sold. If I can’t get rid of some of the other items, I think I’ll try to give them away as opposed to throwing them in the bin. Lately I’m all about recycling / re purposing so this way I feel a bit better that at least I tried to do something instead of throwing them away. If someone else does that then at least it’s one less thing that was bought to then be thrown away right?!

Eye shadow palettes:

The Smashbox Full Exposure palette was the first palette I got, having bought it after really wanting to try and figure how to make eye shadows work for my eyes. I got this at Sephora, thinking that the colours would suit me and were also fairly neutral. The reason why I got rid of this, is because the entire top row is glittery and I hardly ever used them. I would stick to the bottom row which were far better for me. As I have the Urban Decay Basics 2 pallette which has similar colours, and is far smaller I decided to let this one go.

The Urban Decay Naked 2 palette is what I decided to go for, after choosing between the 1st, 2nd or 3rd one. I decided to go for this one as the 3rd one seemed to rose pink for me, and the first one I thought the packaging was probably too flimsy. Plus this one had a nice black black colour. Whilst I liked the packaging, I realised that this has too many shimmery shades too, and a fair number of lighter ones which I couldn’t seem to work or naturally didn’t tend towards. For this reason I hardly picked this up. I did get the Smokey palette afterwards, having been won over by the quality and the choice that the palette gives you, and tended to use that more (or the Basics 2).

Bronzer & Highlighters:

I got the Bare Minerals “warmth” in the US at a outlet centre, and this is unopened. With an open one already in my make up drawers, and being hardly used as it is, I decided that this has to go. For an all around colour, I might try more in the summer, but as a bronzer I find that I have other products I gravitate towards.

The Model Co highlighting trio was from the Birchbox I recently posted. I didn’t even want to open this up, because I thought about it, and as I hardly use cream products (my Benefit Watt’s up highlighter hardly gets used at all!) I decided that this should have it’s chance with someone else. I read good reviews on the product, but decided to keep it in the packaging and let it find a good home elsewhere.

Other:

The Sephora primer is something that I got on a whim and hardly used, I don’t think I would want to either as it is very siliconey (I got a sample afterwards and used that), and I don’t like the texture of that. Also I have been skipping primer lately, using either multi purpose moisturisers and also putting a bit of oil into my foundation and then powdering up. It is winter though, so I don’t really need to worry as much about make up staying on.

MUFE concealer is something I got on a private sale, and I’m not sure why I decided to get this really as I don’t think I knew my colour. Anyway this can’t be sold on ebay due to some rights or something like that, so not sure exactly what I can do with it.. I can try other sites perhaps.

Nivea Men post shave balm isn’t anything expensive and it doesn’t matter if I don’t find a home for this. I bought this because it was a big thing on YouTube that this made a great primer. As I bought this on a BOGOF deal, I didn’t really need the other..

The S factor hair brush is a spare one that I already have. I’m not sure that the big barrel is useful or anything, but two of them is at least one too many. It’s discontinued but I’m hoping that someone is interested.. It would be a shame to let it go to waste.

So this month’s box was strangely delayed, I think it might have had something to do with the fact that it is a collab box with Jonak ( shoe company). This month I think all the contents were the same and looking at it very quickly, I think the value of the box must be quite high.

Aussie 3MM Reconstructor. 250ml – 9Eur

75ml – 2.70Eur

Comments: I receive this brand before, I think it was either the same or a similar product. I do remember thinking it wasn’t bad though, so I don’t mind having this again. It’s a hair mask and so after the Amika mask that I got from my Birchbox this month gets used, this one will be up next.

De Bruyere Beaute Jumbo eye crayon, Bubble 07. 15Eur

Full size. 15Eur

Comments: I don’t mind an eye crayon, it’s what I used to only wear back in the day before I discovered that eye primer would actually allow eye shadow to work on my eyes! This colour is a subtle one, and I think would work well for my every day use (which is a brown subtle smokey eye)

Avene Eau Thermale – Masque apaisant hydratant. 50ml – 15.80Eur

30ml – 9.48Eur

Comments: Well I’ve tried this brand once before, I know that it’s easily accessible for me in Paris where all the pharmacies stock this brand for a good price, but I’ve not really tried any other of their products. I hear the cold cream is meant to be good..but I digress. So this is supposed to hydrate and then you wipe off the excess. Good for the winter months I suppose.

MDMflow Semi matte lipstick in the shade Vamp. 21Eur

Full size. 21Eur

Comments: This colour looks like a perfect deep plum, which is great for the autumn months (though it could also pass as a rainy gloomy winter if you ask me). I can’t wait to try this shade out.

Unani – Il-luminate cleaning milk. 200ml – 15.99Eur

200ml – 15.99Eur. Full size.

Comments: I still have something from this brand that I never used yet (from a beauty box). I don’t think I have any bad perceptions of this, quite the contrary but I know that I’ve been backlogged with some products so I just didn’t get round to it. This is a cleansing milk though, and considering I use a cleanser/micellaire water on a daily basis, I’m sure I’ll get round to this soon enough.

Well I wasn’t joking when I thought this box value was worth a fair bit, and it is a 64,17Eur. Must be a top record for a value of a Glossybox I think. I’m pretty content with this months unboxing and I think these are all products I think are useful / curious to try out.

So this is the second Birchbox that I have, and the last one for a while, as this was a one off as it was a two for one. I’m actually a bit bummed that it’s going to be the last one, especially since I stopped due to not liking the products so much (and also because I have a LOAD of things to try and get through already). However these boxes are pretty cute and I am actually liking this box where you can design / sew on what you’d like.

Anyway, let’s get to the contents (like last month, the prices are the ones if you are a subscriber):

Amika: Nourishing mask. 250ml – 24.65Eur

20ml – 1.97Eur

Comments: I think I received this before (from a Glossybox) and I don’t mind having this again. I think the product works well, though not something I might necessarily buy myself. If I remember correctly, I used a load last time so it only got a few uses but I’m just going to concentrate on the tips this time.

Anatomicals: Citrus body scrub. 200ml – 5.10Eur

50ml – 1.27Eur

Comments: A body scrub, why not in terms of the exfoliating. Slightly better than a plain old shower gel anyway. Not sure if I like the packaging but then it doesn’t bother me too much, just means I’d probably not see this in the shop and want to buy it.

Huygens: Le gommage visage. 50ml -16.92Eur

10ml – 3.38Eur

Comments: I received this also from a Glossybox, and I didn’t mind this so again I don’t mind have things. I think this brand isn’t something I would go out to buy something but more than happy to continue receiving it in my beauty boxes. This mask has tiny grains to help exfoliate and I actually like the smell (vervine) as it smells fresh and cleansing.

Modelco: Highlighting trio. 3.6g – 13.60Eur

3.6g – 13.60Eur. Full size

Comments: Although this product costs the price that you’d pay for a one off Birchbox, and therefore earns itself, I don’t think I would use this at all. It’s a cream highlighting trio, and a quick look online tells me that it seems to be good and does the trick, but for me I tend to stay away from the cream bases products. I’m still debating whether to keep this or give this away..

Comments: Wow, I think this is the first time I can try something from this brand and I am excited to as well. I think many people think highly of this brand ( I might be wrong but to me it appears like that anyway) and this is a pricey product. I’ve put aside my Embryolisse to make room for this as my night cream. So I can try it out asap

So the total value of this box is 31.70Eur, which is definitely thanks to the Ren and Modelco products. Considering a normal box is 13Eur, and then I paid 13Eur for 2 boxes, and therefore 6Eur for this box…BARGAIN! This is actually why I think I have a beauty/skincare hoarding problem. Forget clothes or shoes.. I like to trawl through Sephora and fill my bathroom cupboards until I can see no space. Not sure when I will have time to actually try and finish everything, one of the reasons why I stuck with just Glossybox, but we shall see. That day will come when I have a manageable amount of products (perhaps)…ok I got side tracked there. Point is, I feel that this is great value, good products and a kick ass designed box. I’d consider re subscribing if I didn’t have too much things already.

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